The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-11-30


exactly divided between the two men
after deducting the Butler and st. John
votes. In 1888 il is our deliberate be-
lief Mr.. Blaine would defeat Cleveland
in New York by surprising majority
Minneapolis Tribune.
WE see no reason to doubt that first
class, sound potatoes will command a
good price during the next few months,
yet no one must be influenced by the
idea that there is likely to be potato
famine. Immense quantities of pota-
toes are being shipped into Boston
from the British provinces, and un-
usually heavy shipments from Ger
many and Scotland are being received
at the present time in New York city,
These potatoes, while somewhat in
ferior to the choice lots of American
product, still satisfy large part of the
demand from consumers and serve to
prevent possible scarcity and extreme
high prices, which might otherwise oc-
cur Boston Cultjrator.
SOME of our republican contem-
poraries are in danger of getting red in
the face over the question whether the
mugwump vote strengthens or weak
ems the party it votes with. Why differ
over little thing like that? A mug
wump's vote counts for as much as
anybody's after it gets into the ballot
box; but as the theory of mugwumpism
is to vote in the air and to flock by
ones self, no considerable number of
mugwumps ever vote a common ticket
! nn1aoo hoe rlauo1n,,l 81; q.
head. Hence only omniscience knows
how the mugwump vote does 90 in state
elections, for it goes all over the lot,
and considerable of it doesn't go any
where-until after election.-Spring-
field Union.
GOVERNOR ORMsBEE of Vermont, in
reply to the question whom he thought
the republican party was most likely to
nominate as its candidate for the presi-
dency in 1888, said that although it
was question very difficult to answer
with any degree of certainty, indca-
tions at present seem to point to Mr..
Blaine. "That is" he said, elf he
would accept the candidacy. The peo-
Pile of Vermont" added Governor
Ormsbee, " are in sympathy with Sena-
tor Sherman in his views regarding
protection for American industries and
federal supervision in the states over
all national elections. The people are
divided, however, upon the question of
the abolition of internal revenue. -
Washington Special.
THE quiet conferences that have
been going on in reference to politics
and political legislation in Washington
this winter and the presidential contest
of next year have been almost con-
slant. There has not been heard
single opinion with reference to the
democratic action TO indicate any other
purpose than the denomination of Mr..
Cleveland. 1t is conceded on every
hand, and bourbon democratic leaders
who have fought Cleveland for the last
three years with their tongues are now
foremost in their advocacy of him.
The republican tendency is still toward
Mr.. Blaine strong and indisputable.
The defeat in New York this fall has
only strengthened the impression that
he is the man to carry this state and the
country. Washington Dispatch.
WE hardly think it fair to say that
the late elections eXtinguished Brother
Blaine. AS between him and other
candidates for the republican nominal
ton the effect is, on the whole, rather
favorable to Blaine. His nearest rival
for the nomination, John Sherman, has
been eclipsed by Foraker and the
Blaine faction in Ohio. Bob Lincoln
and the hereditary idea have been
tested in the person of Fred Grant and
disposed of effectually. And for the
third or fourth time the returns have
demonstrated that republicans need pay
no attention to mugwump protests in
making up their minds concerning the
availability of Mr.. Blaine or any other
candidate. Their threats and warnings
will be henceforth no more terrible
than BunthOrne's curse.-Netr York
san.
ALL other parties strive to become as
large as they can. The mugwumps, on the
contrary, cannot afford to become too nu-
nervous If they should become the ma
iority party they would cease to be mug
wumps Indeed, it would be fatal to their
purpose if they should ever become the regu-
lar opposition party. What they aim at is
to avoid becoming so numerous as to ont
number either of the regular parties but TO
remain just numerous enough to hold the
balance of power, and thus make both
parties fear them. They would have no po-
litical existence If there were no other
party. Nay, they must have two other
parties in order to have an organization of
their own. They cannot be the first party
or the second but must always be the
third or less than the third. The more
small parties there are to draw from the